Zoology and wildlife conservation

A home from home for coelacanths: The discovery of specimens of the coelcanth, Latimeria chalumnae, in Indonesian waters raises questions about the geographical distribution and conservation status of this remarkable fish

Article Abstract:

The existence of living coelancanths off the northeast coat of Sulawesi, Indonesia has been reported by Erdmann and colleagues. Coelacanths, Latimeria chalumnae, were thought to have become extinct in the Upper Cretaceous some 80 million years ago. Latimeria is the only living animal with a functional intracranial joint which separates the nasal organs and eye from the ear and brain, and its paired fins move in a way quite unlike other fishes, but in the same way we move our arms and legs.

Extending the methodology of X-ray crystallography to allow imaging of micrometre-sized non-crystalline specimens

Article Abstract:

Soft X-rays are ideal for studying micrometre-sized objects, although the highest-resolution applications of X-ray imaging have usually been restricted to crystalline samples. Imaging of a non-crystalline sample has been demonstrated by measuring the soft X-ray diffraction pattern from the image, and the crystallographic phase problem was overcome by oversampling the diffraction pattern. The technique does not require high-resolution X-ray optical elements or detectors.

Reconstruction of museum specimens

Article Abstract:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners can be used for the soft-tissue studies of small zoological specimens, and are also cost-effective. MRI makes it possible to study myology, which cannot be done with other non-invasive techniques such as radiography and whole-body staining. The other give limited anatomical information. MRI enables vertebral counts in elasmobranchs. Other non-destructive soft-tissue applications of MRI are discussed.